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NETE@ STATES PATENT FFTCE GEORGE E. BELCHER, OF STOUGHTON,MASSAGHUSETTS.

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Application filed February 18, 1914.

To aZZ whom it may conoem Be it known that I, GEORGE E. BELCHER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Stoughton, county of Norfolk,Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Lasts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hinged lasts and particularly to the anchoringof the hinge or link of such a device.

In the varous shoe operations, the last is subjected to very greatpressures which tend to break down the last and crush the heel part atthe spindle socket, in spite of the fact that the spindle socket isusually provided with a metallic thimble. The pressure of the jackspindle however is often so great as to break through the lower closedend of this thimble and split the last.

I have found that by using a heavy metallic plug and placing it oppositeand slightly in advance of the spindle socket very satisfactory resultsmay be had. In addition to its function of 'reinforcing the last, theplug has an additonal function not present in other devices of thissort. The plug of the present invention serves as the anchor for therear end of the last union and obviates the necessity for a pin fiXingthis end of the union in the heel part. Moreover, the Construction ofthe plug is such as to hold the link end tightly against play Whilepermitting a longitudinal movement eflective to draw up on the lastparts and Secure a relative adjustment. This adjusting movement iseifected through the use of a suitable screw driver engaging a settingupscrew which has its bearing in said plug and is threaded into the rearend of the link.

The Construction and operation of my device will be more fully disclosedin the specification which follows, and in the drawings which form apart of that specification, I have shown as an illustrative embodiment aConstruction which not only clearly illustrates the principle involved,but is in itself a form proven satisfactory in practice and Well adaptedto the requirements of the trade.

Throughout specification and drawings like reference numerals areemployed to in- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

Serial No. 819,311.

dicate corresponding parts, and in these drawings: Figure 1 is a centrallongitudinal section through a last in accordance with my lnvention andindicating in dotted lines the relative position of the parts when thelast is collapsed, F ig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the indicatedline 2-2, of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, Fig. 3 is asection through the heel part with the link removed and showing the plugin position, and Figs. 4c and 5 are details of the anchorm plug detachedand viewed from opposite S1 es.

I have indicated at l and 2 the fore part and heel parts respectively,of a so called divided last adapted to move on each other with a bearingformed by a Curved dividing cut. The fore part 1 has a vertical kerf 3and the heel part 2 a longitudinal bore 4: extending from end to endthereof.

The last union in the form shown consiste of a link 5 pivoted at itsforward end in the fore part by a transverse pin 6 and guiding in thekerf 3. At its rear end the link seats in the bore 4 and is fiXed in theheel part by an anchoring plug 7.

The plug 7 in the form shown consists of a solid metal cylinder. It isinserted in a vertical bore starting from the bottom of the heel partand eXtending up toward and slightly beyond the lower closed end of thethimble 8, which lines the spindle socket. The bore however is disposedslightly to one side of the thimble so that the plug is really parallelto the thimble. Approximately midway of its vertical length, the plughas a hole 9 let therethrough to receive a settingup screw 10 fordrawing up the link. To provide a close bearing for the screw, the

metal of the plug on two sides of the hole' 9 is cut away as indicatedat 11 in Fig. 5. This brings the head of the screw up tight against theplug. The threads of the screw engage in an interiorly threaded axialbore in the rear end of the link. To bring the link end up close againstthe plug the metal of the link is cut away on two sides as indicated at12, Fig 1, and the metal of the plug surrounding the hole 9 is also cutaway as indicated at 18, Fig. 4, to provide a recess in which thereduced end of the link is received. This provides a very tightconnection of the link and plug at this end and prevents play of theparts. When the link is draWn up the reduced end of the link rides intothe recess 13 until the edges of the plug abut the shoulders on the linkformed by cutting aWay the metal at 12. The screW 10 is inserted fromthe rear end of the heel part through the bore 4 'which eXtends from endto end of the heel part. The screW 10 is ready for operation byinserting a screwdr-iver in the bore 4.

In assembling the last the plug 7 is first set-up, the link driven backto fit but not Wholly fill the out-out 13 and the pivot pin 6 drivenhome to fasten the forward end of the link. The screW 10 is thenthreaded through the bearing provided by the plug into the rear end ofthe link until the link is draWn up sufiiciently to give the desiredadjustment of the last parts. The rear end of the bore 4 may then beclosed by a suitable plug if desired.

By locating the plug 7 underneath and to one side of the thimble it Willvery eflectively resist and absorb the pressure and prevent splitting ofthe last. In addition the plug provides a very firm anchor for the rearend of the link and prevents lateral play of the link, .thereby tendingto prevent the union breaking down under the pressure. The plug moreoverprovides a center bearing for the Setting-up screW Which draWs up thelink. The link in this draWing up motion moves backwardly to- Ward thecut out portion 13 of the plug until the edges of the cut out abut theshoulders formed by clearing aWay the metal of the link end at 12.

Various modifications in the form, mate rial and location of the plug,in the manner of engaging the plug and link, in the manner of draWing upthe link and in any other details may obviously be resorted to, withinthe limits of the appended claims.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a divided last comprising last parts and a union connecting saidparts, an anchor for fiXing one end of said union in a last partconsisting of a' bearing and reinforcing member removably inserted inone of the last parts and efiectively disposed relative to the union,and an engaging device rotatably' set up in said' bearingmember andoperatively engaging said union at its end. v 2. In a divided lastcomprismg last parts and a union connecting said parts and having anaxial bore, means for fiXing one end of said union in a last partconsisting of a ,bearing and reinforcing member removably inserted inone of said parts and vertically arranged relative to the union, and

an engaging device rotatably set up in said bearing member and threadinginto said aXial bore in the opposed end of the union.

3. In a divided last comprising last parts and a union connecting saidparts and having an aXial bore, means for fiXing one end of said unionin a last part consisting of a plug in one of said last parts arrangedat right angles to the union, and a screW set up in said plug andthreading into said aXial bore in the opposed end of the union.

4:. In a divided last comprising last parts and a union conneoting saidparts, an anchor for drawing up on said union, comprising a bearing andreinforcing member removably inserted in one of the last parts andanchoring o'ne end of the union, and a setting up device operativelymounted in said bearing member and having a detachable engagement withthe opposed end or said union.

5. In a divided last comprising last'parts and a union connecting saidparts and having an aXial bore, means for drawing up oni said union,comprising a bearing member arranged in one of the last parts at rightangles to the union and anchoring one end of the union, and a screWoperatively mounted in said bearing member and having a threadedengagement in said aXial bore 'in the opposed end of said union.

6. In a divided last comprising a fore part and a heel part, a unionpivoted in said fore part, an anchoring member arranged at right anglesto the union and fiXing said union in the heel part, said member havinga 'hole let therethrough and said union being cut aWay on tWo sides nearits end in order to fit closely against said member, and means fordraWing up on said union comprising a rotatable member having a bearingin said anchoring member and eXtending through said hole therein todetachably en-' gage the opposed end of the union.

7. In a divided last comprising a fore part and a heel part, a unionpivoted in said fore part, an anchoring plug vertically arranged andfixing said union in the heel part, said plug having a hole lettherethrough and* said union being cut aWay on two sides near its end inorder to fit closely against said plug, and means for draWing up on saidunion comprising a screW having a bearing in said plug and eX- tendingthrough said hole therein to thread intothe opposed end of the union.

8. In a last' co1nprising a fore part and a heel part, said heel parthaving a spindle socket and a union for said parts, a bearing andreinforcing member inserted in the heel part in reinforcing relation tothe spindle socket of said part and anchoring one end of the last union,and a Setting up device operatively mounted in said bearing member andhaving a detachable engagement With the opposed end of said union.

9. In a last comprising a fore part and a heel part, said heel parthaving a spindle socket and a union for said parts, a bearing andreinforcing member inserted in the heel part in substantial parallelismto the spindle socket of said part and anchoring one end of the lastunion, and a Setting up 10 device operatively mounted in said bearingmember and having a detachable engagement With the opposed end of saidunion.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE E. BELCHER.

Witnesses:

S. A. UPHAM, RALPH P. ROWE.

